Uttarakhand: 11 killed, 3 injured as passenger vehicle falls in deep gorge in Chamoli district

New Delhi: In an unfortunate incident, a passenger vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday, November 18, 2022, which has claimed eleven lives so far, injuring three. According to the police reports, 16 passengers were on board when the incident took place at around 4 PM at Urgam in Joshimath area of Uttarakhand's Chmaoli district. 

11 people killed, 3 injured as SUV falls into deep gorge in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district: Police

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 18, 2022

The passengers, boarded in Tata Sumo, were on their way to Palla Jakhol village from Joshimath when the accident occurred, the State Emergency Operation Centre in Dehradun said. Two of the occupants jumped out of the vehicle in the nick of time, the SP said.

Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have rushed to the spot and rescue operations are underway. The gorge is around 300 metres deep and reaching the spot where the remains of the vehicle are lying is difficult, an eyewitness told PTI over the phone. The vehicle is said to have been overloaded with some occupants also sitting on its roof.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief at the loss of lives in the accident and announced an ex gratia of ₹ 2 lakh each to the next of those killed.

He spoke to the District Magistrate of Chamoli Himanshu Khurana over the phone and asked him to expedite the rescue efforts. Dhami also asked the DM to ensure that free medical treatment is provided to the injured.